Chusetts



(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 1. E. P. MERRILL.

ROLLER TOBOGGAN SLIDBAND TOBOGGAN GAR. No. 430,587. Patented June 17, 1890.

WITNESSES: INVENTOI? zy .4: /ma 5, -7" BY 2 fi'fldnm 10, fan/W ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. P. MERRILL. ROLLER TOBOGGANV SLIDE AND TOBOGGAN GAR.

No.-430,58'7 Patented June 17, 1890.

FIB

WITNESSES: INVENTOH mwwmwa 8) 31mm) A 001M ATTORNEY,

(No Model.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. F. MERRILL.

ROLLER TOBQGGAN SLIDE AND TOBOGGAN GAR.

No. 430,587. Patented June 17, 1890.

l xlirulll Du H H WITNESSES.

3/2041? 0, aw/W ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA F. MERRILL, OF STRATFORD, NElV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE HAVERI-IILL ROLLER TOBOGGAN COMPANY, OF HAVERHILL, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

ROLLER TOBOGGAN-SLIDE AND TOBOGGAN-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,587, dated June 17, 1890.

Application filed November 11, 1889. Serial No. 329,960. (No model.) I

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, EZRA F. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stratford, in the county of Coos and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Toboggan- Slides and Toboggan-Oars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a roller tobogganslide of any required number and kind of lengths, winds, and elevations, which may, or may not, be directly under each other in connection with one or more tracks, elevators, and toboggan-cars. The rails on which the wheels of the toboggan-car run are on or at the top of the sides of the toboggan-slide, and not on the bottom or floor of the same, as heretofore, whereby the body of the car is carried low between the sides. Each toboggan-carrying wheel has a lateral curving by means of a vibrating arm that extends from the side of the car. The guide-wheels turn laterally on journals of a horizontal bar that moves with the center pin of the carryingwheels, by which they have a simultaneous lateral movement. Guide-boards are fixed lengthwise to the inner surface of each side of the toboggan-slide for the guide-wheels to turn against and direct the car. The carrails and guide-boards can be underlaid with rubber, felt, or other noiseless material, to deaden the rumbling sound of the rollingcar. A bar across each end of the toboggancar connects the extremities of the horizontal bars, which causes them to vibrate together in the same direction, keeps the guide-wheels from spreading and wedgingagainst theguideboards, and makes the bearing-wheels curve and track at once. To avoid the result of a variation in the length of the wire rope which operates the elevator-car by climatic and other influences, the end of the toboggan-slide adjacent to the elevator is shortened, and the space thus made bridged by a hinged trackplatform, so that the loose end can be elevated by contact with the end of the track of the ascending elevatoncar, and be in juxtaposition with it when it stops, and ready for rolling the toboggan-car over it to the main track.

On reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a section or length of a roller toboggan-slide, elevator, and car. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the toboggan-slide, switch, tracks, and elevators. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the switch. Fig. 4. is a transverse section of the toboggan-slide and an end view of the toboggan-car. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a toboggan-car and rails. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the toboggan-car, on an enlarged scale, showing the car suspended between the sides of the track. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a toboggancar seat and safety-frame, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A, Fig. 1, is a roller toboggan-slide of any required number and kind of lengths, winds, and elevations, either directly under each other or not, and with one or more tracks which begin and end at the elevator.

Bis any suitable framing or support for the slide.

O are rails on or at the top of the sides D of the slide, and E is a guide-board placed lengthwise against the inner surface of each side D.

F is a bed of rubber, felt, or other suitable noiseless material beneath the rail 0 and guide-board E for deadening the sound of the rolling toboggan-car.

G, Figs. 1 and 2, is an elevator, (one or more may be used,) which extends vertically from the starting to the stopping points of the toboggan-track for raising the toboggan-car H. Each track or way I, Fig. 2, on which the car runs is made up of two rails O, and when two elevators, Fig. 2, are used, the main track I alternately connects with them by means of auxiliary tracks I, provided with a movable switch 1 which is shifted by the momentum of the car from the elevator to guide it upon the main track. In Fig. 3 the switch is shown with a friction-roller a on the base I) to reduce its friction while shifting.

To adapt the tracks of the toboggan-slide to any variation, the length of the wire rope that operates the toboggan-car II, caused by climatic and other influences, that end of theioboggan-track next to the elevator G, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is stopped short, and the space between it and the elevator is bridged over by a track-platform J, hinged to the slide. WVhen the wire rope is in its normal condition, the hinged platform remains closed; but a contraction of the rope willcause the track of the elevator-car,in its ascent, to contact with the loose end of the track-platform and raise it in proportion to the shortening of the rope. On the stoppage of the elevatorcar the toboggan-car can be run over the platform to the main track I.

K, Figs. 4 and 5, are jaws projected from the sides at the ends of the toboggan-car II, through which passes a bolt (Z of a T-shaped lever L, whose horizontal leg 6 carries atoboggan-wheel M for rolling over the rail 0 and bearing the toboggan-car suspended low between the sides D. The toboggan-car now in use rolls over rails placed on the bottom or floor of the toboggan-slide, the carryingwheels turning vertically beneath the car. In my invention, as shown, the wheels bear on or at the top of the sides of the slide, the body being suspended between. A horizonial bar N, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, on the said bolt d of the jaws K, has guide-wheels O, which turn laterally against the guide-board E. Sufficient clearance must be observed between the guide-wheels O and the guide-boards E of each side, Fig. 4, to permit a free vibration of the bar N, and allow either wheel, as the case may be, to contact with the guide-board for a proper and efficient tracking and curving of the toboggan-carrying wheels M.

P, Fig. 4, is a bar across each end of the toboggan-car II, which connects the extremities of the bars N of the same end of the car, and causes them to have a simultaneous vibration in the same direction, for, were it otherwise, the two might spread or open adversely and wedge the guide-wheels 0 against the guide-boards E, and thus interfere with the passage of the toboggan-car.

The toboggan-car H has usually a side rail to prevent its occupants from falling out while the car is in motion. As an additional hinderance, I employ a frame Q, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, hinged in front of the seat R by its sides f. In use it turns over its transverse part g, taking over the lap of the rider. WVhen not in use, it is turned, as shown by the dotted lines h, Fig. 7.

In putting my invention into practice the toboggan-car is raised by the elevator G to the level of the toboggan-track, Fig. 1, and rolled over the hinged platform J to the main track I. Its momentum carries it over the toboggan-slide A to the bottom of the elevator, which lifts it again for another round.

It cannot be expected that in case of toboggan-slides so nearly resembling one another in appearance and construction I should limit myself to any given example wit-h any great specialty. I therefore do not confine myself to a toboggan-slide of any given number and kind of stretches, undulations, and Winds. They can pass directlybeneath each other or not, as circumstances require. The formation and other details of construction and arrangement must be with a View to the place where it is to be erected and operated.

I am aware that materials other than those described herein can be used for the noiseless packing below the guide-boards and the rails, and that modifications in the construction of the hinged bridge and the switch can be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I reserve the right to make such changes as fall within the scope of the invention covered by the vclaims of this application and in view of the prior state of the art. More than one elevator of optional make can be used for alternately raising the toboggan-cars.

I claim as my invention- 1. A roller toboggan-slide provided with a bridge or connection J, hinged to the fixed structure, and an elevator, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

2. A roller toboggan-slide, its tracks, and elevators, provided with a hinged switch and auxiliary tracks, for the purpose shown and described.

3. A sliding hill provided with forked section s and rails having projecting ends adapted to be raised by elevating means to form a connection between the ways of the elevating means and the tracks of the hill, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A sliding hill A, provided with a forked section I I and hinged rails J J, having projecting outer ends, in combination with an elevator, and to form a connection between the ways of said elevator and the tracks of said sliding hill, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A roller toboggan-slide provided with rails at the tops of its sides, which rails are elevated above the bottom of the slide, in connection with a toboggan-car carried between the sides of the hill above the bottom thereof by carrying and guide wheels which ride on said rails, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

6. A roller toboggan-slide having guideboards placed lengthwise against the inner sides of the slide, in connection with a tobo gan-car suspended within the slide and provided with a vibrating bar on the pin or cen-. ter of vibration of the toboggan-carrying wheels for guiding the toboggan-car and curvin g the carrying-wheels, for the purpose shown and described.

7. The combination, with a toboggan-slide having the lateral guide-boards, of a tobog gan-car suspended between the sides of said slide and vibratory devices carried at the sides of the car and connected for simultaneous operation, said devices having the guide-rollers which contact with the lateral guide-boards, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a toboggan-slide having the lateral guide-boards and the rails arran gedin j uxtaposition to said guide-boards, of a toboggan-car and vibratory devices carried by the car at the sides thereof, and having the track-rollers which ride on the rails and the lateral guide-rollers that contact with the lateral guide-boards, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination, with a toboggan-slide having the rails and the lateral guide-boards in juxtaposition to the rails, of a toboggancar and vibratory supporting devices pivoted on the car at the sides thereof and connected by intermediate devices for simultaneous movement, as described, each vibratorydevice carryinga vertical track-roller and the lateral guide-rollers which rideagainst the guide-boards, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The combinatiomwitha toboggan-slide having the elevated and the lateral guideboards, of a toboggan-car, the levers each pivoted at a point intermediate of its length on the side of the car and carrying the lateral guide-rollers, andprovided with an arm which projects laterally therefrom and carries a Vertical track-roller, and devices for connecting the vibrating levers in pairs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The combination, with a toboggan-slide having the rails and the lateral guide-boards arranged below the rails, of a toboggan-car, the vibratory devices pivoted on the car at each side and end thereof, and each vibratory device having the lateralguide-rollers and a vertical track-roller, said track-rollers riding on the elevated rails of the slide and operating to suspend the car between the sides of the toboggan-slide, and links arranged transversely across thecar and connecting two adjoining vibratory devices on opposite sides of the car, as and for the purpose described.

12. A toboggan-carhaving a frame pivoted to the body of the car and adapted when turned to a horizontal position to lie either partially or wholly over the seat of the car, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EZRA F. MERRILL.

Vitnesses:

FRANCIS D. PASTQRIUS, M. S. HOFFMAN. 

